Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund 2010 Request for Proposals (RFP) LCCMR ID: 216-G Project Title: Science and Innovation from the Soudan Iron Mine LCCMR 2010 Funding Priority: G. Creative Ideas Total Project Budget: $ $551,451 Proposed Project Time Period for the Funding Requested: 3 years, 2010 - 2013 Other Non-State Funds: $ $0 Summary: The Soudan Iron Mine in Northern Minnesota is a unique and exciting opportunity for basic science, educational outreach and innovative applications impacting the areas of drug discovery, bioenergy and bioremediation. Name: Jeffrey Gralnick U of MN Sponsoring Organization: 1479 Gortner Ave Address: St. Paul MN 55108 (612) 626-6496 Telephone Number: gralnick@umn.edu Email: Fax: Web Address: Location: Region: Regional County Name: Ramsey St. Paul City / Township: _____ Knowledge Base _____ Broad App. _____ Innovation _____ Leverage _____ Outcomes _____ Partnerships _____ Urgency _______ TOTAL 06/22/2009 Page 1 of 6 216-G
MAIN PROPOSAL PROJECT TITLE: Science and Innovation from the Soudan Iron Mine I. PROJECT STATEMENT There are three integrated facets of this proposal: Basic Science, Innovative Applications and Outreach and Education. Basic Science will provide a fundamental understanding of the unique environment found in the bottom of the Soudan Iron Mine. Innovative Applications will explore how novel microbes from the mine will be harnessed for drug discovery, bioenergy and bioremediation. Outreach and Education will integrate our findings to educate the general public and mine visitors. The study of extreme or novel environments can sometimes lead to discoveries that change the world. In the early 1970’s such a discovery was made in hot springs in Yellowstone National Park – bacteria thriving at temperatures previously thought to be inhospitable for life were identified. The commercialization of proteins from these bacteria revolutionized science, enabling an era of modern molecular genetics, including sequencing of the human genome, and is the foundation of a multi-billion dollar biotechnology industry. Based on our preliminary analysis, a similar commercial opportunity may be found deep underground in Northern Minnesota at the bottom of an abandoned iron mine . The Soudan Iron Mine near Ely, MN closed in 1962 and later became the Soudan Underground Mine State Park. The Soudan Mine is both a historical site, offering the public an opportunity to reflect on past economic activities and technologies of the iron range, and also houses the High Energy Physics Lab, administered by the University of Minnesota. This state park attracts around 40,000 visitors per year; making it an important destination for both residents of Minnesota and surrounding states. The lowest level of the Soudan Mine is home to an extraordinary environment where the fields of microbiology, geochemistry and mineralogy converge. The sedimentary iron-rich rock that was mined for 80 years at this site is known as a ‘Banded Iron Formation’ or BIF. BIFs contain a substantial portion of the iron found on the surface of our planet, and the Soudan BIF is estimated to be around 2.7 billion years old. Typically, oxygen is required to form rust (as we all know well in Minnesota), however the Soudan BIF was deposited ~ 400 million years before oxygen was present in significant amounts in our atmosphere. Microbiologists have suggested that iron-oxidizing bacteria could have been responsible for these ancient sedimentary formations and studying this site will provide insight into this process. In the lowest level of the Soudan Iron Mine water seeping from boreholes drilled in the waning days of the mine can be found. This water is quite unusual since it is almost three times saltier than seawater and is devoid of oxygen. Associated with many of these seeps are unique iron oxide structures and throughout this strange water are poorly characterized iron minerals and thriving bacterial communities. Some of the bacteria we have analyzed from this environment appear to be distant relatives of bacteria found in the ocean. What are bacteria from the ocean doing in water found 2341 feet underground in northern Minnesota? Are descendants of organisms that helped form the Soudan BIF still living in waters trapped within the iron formation? Are there novel microbes found here? The unique environment of the lowest level of the Soudan Mine presents many exciting opportunities directly related to LCCMR funding priorities (Creative Ideas). Result 1 will help us understand the fundamental nature of this unique environment where we will characterize the microbiology, mineralogy and geochemistry of the Level 27 brine and the formations found in the mine. This information will be used to protect this unusual and exciting ecosystem and communicate our findings (result 3). In result 2 we will explore exciting innovative applications that utilize microbes isolated from the mine. Given the novelty of the microbes and environment, we expect this work will lead to new areas of research and potential revenue for the State of Minnesota in the areas of drug discovery, bioenergy and bioremediation. We have already gathered preliminary results demonstrating that several of the Soudan Mine isolates are highly unusual and may produce novel compounds. II. DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT RESULTS Result 1: Basic Science – Microbiology, Minerology and Geochemistry Budget: $379,201 06/22/2009 Page 2 of 6 216-G
Science and Innovation from the Soudan Iron Mine The microbiology section will focus on identifying and categorizing the microbial populations found in the mine. The mineralogy portion will focus on synchnotron-enabled analysis of both structure and composition of minerals found in the Level 27 brine and on samples from iron formations. The geochemistry analysis will focus on chemical and isotopic characterization of the Level 27 brine, in addition to heavy metal analysis on Level 10 (and elsewhere in the mine as directed by mine staff). Deliverables: Completion Date 1. Molecular phylogenetic analysis and characterization of microbes June 30, 2013 2. Mineralogical, speciation and elemental analysis June 30, 2013 3. Isotope analysis of level 27 brine, gas composition, geochemistry June 30, 2013 Result 2: Innovative Applications – Drug Discovery, Bioenergy, Bioremediation Budget: $162,250 In this section we will determine the feasibility of utilizing microorganisms isolated from the Soudan Iron Mine in three specific commercial areas. Our priority here is to identify potential commercial assets deriving from microbes cultivated from the Soudan Mine. Deliverables: Completion Date 1. Screen novel isolates for production of anticancer and antimicrobial drugs June 30, 2013 2. Demonstrate the use of iron oxidizing bacteria in microbial fuel cells June 30, 2013 3. Isolate and characterize bacteria that promote oxidation of toxic metals June 30, 2013 Result 3: Public Outreach and Education Budget: $10,000 We will collaborate to develop training for DNR tour guides to describe the features, microorganisms, biogenic mineralogy and geochemistry within the mine and collaborate with staff to generate educational displays and to develop best practices for protecting this unique environment. Deliverables: Completion Date 1. DNR microbiology training module, best practices assessment, display June 30, 2012 III. PROJECT STRATEGY A. Project Partners Dr. Brandy Toner (Co-PI) is responsible for all mineralogical analyses. She is an Assistant Professor at the University of Minnesota (Soil, Water and Climate) with extensive experience working with synchrotron-based analysis of biogenic and natural minerals and characterizing microbial populations. Dr. Christine Solomon (University of Minnesota) of the Center for Drug Design will isolate and screen microbes for production of medically relevant compounds. Her group will be involved in screening for antibacterial and anticancer activities, and will purify and characterize novel compounds. Dr. E. Calvin Alexander, Jr. is a Morse-Alumni Professor at the University of Minnesota (Geology and Geophysics) and will be responsible for all geochemical and isotopic analyses. James Essig (DNR, Park Manager – Soudan Underground Mine State Park) will help coordinate research trips to the mine, outreach activities on site and future commercialization possibilities. Dr. Daniel Bond (University of Minnesota) is an Assistant Professor of Microbiology and member of the BioTechnology Institute. Dr. Bond is an expert in microbial fuel cell technology and metal reduction. B. Timeline Requirements Three years of funding will be sufficient to accomplish the basic, fundamental research (Result 1), explore innovative applications (Result 2) and education / outreach (Result 3) proposed here. C. Long Term Strategy At the end of the three year project, we expect to have obtained results that will support funding from national agencies (such as the National Science Foundation, Department of Energy and National Institutes of Health) and we will begin partnering with organizations (such as Natural Resources Research Institute) and local companies to utilize novel compounds identified, for potential bioenergy applications and for bioremediation using microbes isolated from the mine. 06/22/2009 Page 3 of 6 216-G
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